_In May 2011, Baxton was hired by the Village of Alorton to serve as the police chief. The previous Alorton police chief, Robert Cummings, pleaded guilty to unrelated federal tax crimes. Baxton served as Alorton police chief until October 14, 2011, when state authorities decertified Baxton as a police officer after discovering he had at one time received two felony convictions from 1982. On November 17, 2011, a St. Clair County judge reinstated Baxton's law enforcement credentials. Shortly after being reinstated, Baxton was hired to be the next police chief of East St. Louis, a position her served in from November 30, 2011 to January 18, 2012. Baxton resigned as part of his plea agreement to the charges against him.